When will local newspapers and those stuck in the “old” web ever learn.I tried to read a story about UNC basketball today in the local newspaper, the Durham Herald-Sun.I’d forgotten that every single story that you try to read on the DHS requires you to have a user name and password.

So instead of seeing my story, I got this screen.

Sure, I could have taken the time to create a user name and password.But undoubtedly I would have forgotten the password and also would have been hit with all kinds of Herald-Sun “offer spam”.It’s bad enough when old guard news/content companies require a login for premium content – and much worse when you have to do so to get a simple article.

I never made it past the inane password wall – no pageviews from these eyeballs – potential revenue thrown away b/c an old school newspaper company can’t reinvent itself.Remember Herald-Sun – open and free always wins.